Le Macinaie Incoming
Tour Organazier - Vacanze nella Toscana del Sud
Cycling tours
For lovers of cycling, Mount Amiata offers an extraordinary, a true temple of fun, both for those seeking challenging courses, and for those who enjoy quiet walks in the countryside.
Ride after ride through woods and vineyard
For cycling enthusiast Monte Amiata offers an exceptional area, a real cornucopia of enjoyment either for those looking for difficult itineraries or for those who enjoy a quiet ride in the green countryside, cycling under the canopy of beech trees or along the sun baked valleys;the Strada del Vino and the Strada dell’Olio run through fortified medieval villages defended by ancient castles. For mountain bikers the parks, nature reserves and paths through the great beech woods are more suitable. For conventional cyclists there are splendid rides through areas of natural and historic interest.: for example along the Strada della Castagna, the Strada del Vino di Montecucco, or a tour of the villages on the mountain or in the Val D’Orcia. Leaders from the Mountain Bike Club of Santa Fiora - le Macinaie provide support.
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Our guides will take you to the turn of the pedals scopertadei amiatini beautiful landscapes: from the great scenic areas to the remotest corners and secrets of the forest, which catturerannoi vostriocchi and your hearts, making your unforgettable trips.
You can count on competent people with extensive knowledge of the area. We will stand next to exercising, advise and assist the less experienced in every need. They'll help you if you help and will bend over backwards to achieve the most of your desires. Some of them speak English.
The guide Andrea among the vineyards of Saint Antimo.
The guide Paul among the vineyards of Montecucco.
For groups of higher level, wishing to be followed by an expert rider can count on the collaboration of Paul sacks.
Italian Amateur Champion in 2007, is responsible for assisting our clients with care and attention by guiding them along the route best suited to their characteristics.
Cycling in Southern Tuscany A Week’s easy-going tour (7days)
This tour s designed for those who are not used to cycling and therefore may not be tremendously fit. You will be followed by a support vehicle which will help anybody in need of assistance. Tables will be set up in the open in delightful spots for picnics. Every day you will be offered different traditional dishes accompanied by white or red wine from the areas we have passed through.Wine and water will be well chilled, even in the summer. Bicycles will be available with saddle bags. Guests will be looked after by qualified guides, knowledgeable about the country and able to deal with any problems with the bicycles. This is an easy tour, and is also suitable for cyclists on their own as there are detailed maps available.
DAY 1
Arrival at the hotel in the late afternoon - and a cocktail to welcome you. Dinner with local, traditional dishes with fine wines from Montalcino, Montecucco, Scansano and Montepulciano.
DAY 2
Tour of Montecucco. 42 k.ms.
In the morning, meet you guide who will allot bicycles according to height and size. A short familiarization course before setting off on the first day’s trip. We leave from Le Macinaie through beautiful beech woods. After a brief halt in a Medioeval village we continue on a steeply undulating road. In anther village we stop for a beer and a refill of water before visiting a Museum where one sees what living conditions were like for country people a century or so ago. We go on towards Cinigiano, which we reach after about 10 k.ms entering the area of Montecucco DOC. It is typically hilly country with cultivated fields, olive groves and vineyards, interspersed with oak woods. After a few kilometres we reach a Castle, recently restored, which is worth visiting. We start off again, but before facing the final part of the route with its deep valleys, we pause in one of the vast stubble fields with a view that covers the lower part of the Orcia valley. Refreshed, we can tackle the short climb and then country roads to the slopes of a Medioeval Village. The brief haul up is tiring, but worth the effort! Having got to the top we can pause in the park with its amazing view over the Val D’Orcia and the Maremma. Here we shall visit the Museum of Vines and a wine estate where we can taste, and perhaps buy, some of their fine wines. Return to the hotel for dinner.
DAY 3
Tour of Monte Amiata. 32km.
Today we shall glimpse some of the country close by. From the Macinaie we head in the direction of Valley. The first part of the route is tarmac, passing through beech woods and then chestnuts. We take a wooded track to a famous village for its mushroom festival, which takes place every year in the autumn. On then for a few kilometres, all downhill, to a medioeval village, the pearl of Amiata. The visit to the old part of the town, the church with della Robbia glazed terracotta, and the part with the large fishpond is fascinating. From there a short climb takes us to the Tibetan centre of Merigar, which we visit. From here a short ride takes us to the valley where a tasting of local produce is waiting for us in the old village cellars. We shall sample the wines of Montecucco, oil and cheese from Seggiano besides salumi (salamis, sausages, hams, etc.). The last bit of the route leads to another old village, where, ready to welcome us, we shall find a medioeval castle. The visit to the old castle, the cellars converted from the old stables, is fascinating. Lunch with our hosts will be in the Devil”s Hall. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.
DAY 4
Tour of the Val D’Orcia 40k.ms
We leave the Prato delle Macinaie and after a brief descent reach the oldest village of the area. A visit to the old part of the town and the Abbey. We then set off on a fairly level road, with a lovely view over the Val D’Orcia, wiht the characteristic village perched on a hill. The route follows the ridge which divides the two sides of the Val d’Orcia. Here lunch will be served in the shade of an ancient oak tree. And then a short bike-ride to the hot spring where a bathe brings the day to a close. Return to the hotel for dinner.
DAY 5
Free day to explore Amiata
The fifth day will exclude cycling commitments; guests can visit places not yet included in the itineraries. A taxi service will be available to take guests rapidly to all the different places. A picnic lunch is on offer.
The hotel Reception Desk can supply information and maps.
The following visits may be of interest:
The old medieval villages with their churches and castles
Parks and nature reserves
Hot springs
Farms and estates with local produce
DAY 6
Today is the day of the Etruscans who inhabited the area bordering Monte Amiata in the eighth century B.C.
We leave le Macinaie passing though beech woods. Up an down road between beautiful castles. We arrive on a road which goes up and down through Etruscan lands. In a medioeval village we shall have a picnic in the park over looking the village. After the visit, having crossed to the other side of the valley and tackled a short climb uphill, we reach another village, famous not only for its Etruscan past, but also for its excellent cool white wine. And finally, on a road which cuts through the sandstone, we arrive at Sovana where we shall visit the old medieval village with its famous square, and the cathedral. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
DAY 7
Tour of the Hot Springs 46 k.ms.
From the Prato delle Macinaie we descend the mountain. After about a kilometre, gently uphill, we find ourselves on the side of the valley of the river Fiora with a magnificent view of the Amiata massif and the valley which stretches as far the north of Lazio. Pedalling easily, we take the road past the foot of hills. Here we leave the valley of the river Fiora and look out over the valley; on a clear day it is possible to make out the Tuscany islands. With the change of valley comes a change of scenery, which, as we go along, gradually assumes the characteristics of the northern Maremma, with olives, vineyards and wide wheat fields. We also pass a castle. We continue on through the medioeval villages og the area. After a halt for picnic we continue direction hot spring and a rapid descent which will take us to the cascades of the old mill, where a bathe in the hot sulphurous water will cancel every trace of exhaustion. After the bathe, return to the hotel for dinner.
DAY 8
Departure after breakfast
A course for serious athletes who will be accompanied on these testing ridesby a member of the company.
Santa Fiora's view
This is a holiday for fit and experienced cyclists.They will tackle two demanding but fascinating routes which cross Amiata and Monte Labbro, accompanied by a member from MTB Santa Fiora who knows the area like the back of his hand.
DAY 1
Arrival at the hotel in the late afternoon. After check in there will be a cocktail to welcome you followed by dinner when local traditional dishes and fine wines from Montalcino, Montecucco (the new DOC for Monte Amiata), Scansano and Montepulciano will be served. After dinner there will be a slide show with music to illustrate the region of Monte Amiata.
DAY 2
The “Anello di Monte Amiata” (the track which ‘rings’ the mountain)
Breakfast is fixed for 8.00 - a plentiful buffet to stoke up energy - and then leave for the Anello. This is the route which best displays the characteristics of our mountain, the complete circuit ranging in height from 850 to 1200 metres above sea level. It can be undertaken at all times of the year, and those who love walking and mountain-biking will find much to enjoy. Spectacular beech woods and chestnut woods accompany the visitor all the way round, with occasional glimpses of the valleys below.The route varies from simple paths to rocky scrambles, from old mule tracks to roads through the woods - all of them unmetalled. And it is not rare to see wildlife like roe deer, fallow deer, wild boar, squirrels, buzzards and falcons - a real plunge into nature. Another characteristic of the Anello is that the visitor can also choose to descend to the villages down below and subsequently return to the main path. To complete the entire route is quite exacting. One can cycle over 80 % of the way in a time that varies from 5 to 8 hours; there are stopping places and areas which have tables and places for a barbecue. The route (No10) is carefully signed, but even so it is easy to miss the way. Expert cyclists will be delighted. Half way round a picnic will be served in a glade under the beeches. In the evening return to the hotel, with time to relax before dinner with local wines. After dinner, an evening with live music.
DAY 3
In the morning after a substantial breakfast, leave by car for Santa Fiora.
The expedition starts from here. The first kilometres are on tarmac and then a dust road leads first to Merigar and then to the WildlifePark. Having crossed the park, following the track which skirts the wolves’ enclosure, we take the gravel road to Roccalbegna, the famous small town built under a sheer cliff. This road is interesting as it follows an old Etruscan one. Having left Roccalbegna we head towards the valley of the Fiora by way of the taxing climb known as the ascent of “hallucinations”. From here, return to Santa Fiora and then the hotel, planned for12.30p.m. a shower and then lunch. Departure in the afternoon.